Chapter Text
It had been a couple weeks since the ninja had returned from the Never Realm and saved Zane, and things have been quiet for the most part. Zane is still recovering from what had happened with the whole Ice Emperor thing, and Pixel has been helping him with it, Jay has been his usual goofy and play games with Nya while Cole has been eating a lot but has been keeping himself in shape. Wu has continued to meditate in his room and has been a little less aggressive then he was before.
For Kai, he's been resting in his room a lot and just reflecting on the adventure that recently happened. It was the first adventure they had been on in a while, even if they were kinda forced to go find one, but Kai was glad they finally got something to do after defeating the Oni, as things had been pretty boring after that happened. But there was one person that he thought about that caused all of this, Aspheera. While releasing her from her tomb was by complete accident, they were able to finally do more ninja stuff again after a while, and Kai was at least grateful for that.
While Kai did still hate her for what she did to them, he did learn about her backstory as well, knowing the history behind her, it was still her fault she ended up entombed because of her betraying Wu, but he did kinda feel bad for the fact she was entombed for thousands of years, and is now in a time period where her Serpentine tribe is gone, and what she knew during her time barely means anything here. It did make him wonder how she feels about things being so different now, especially with how high tech they're stuff is here, when that kind of stuff didn't exist back in her time.
Kai just didn't know why she was on his mind, she was an evil sorceress who took his powers and banished Zane to the Never Realm, he had every right to just forget about her and move on with his life, but he just couldn't. And he didn't know why, what was it? Was it pity he felt for what's happened with her during her time, or was it guilt that there was no other way to help her from what they know? Even if she was evil, there may have been a chance to help her, even if Kai didn't like her, these thoughts kept clouding his mind for a while.
Kai kept tossing and turning around in his bed trying to sleep, while it had been well past sunset at this point, the other's were still doing they're own thing, and didn't concern Kai much. But the thoughts of what happened with Aspheera just kept coming back to him, no matter how much he tried to push past it, it just couldn't leave him and it made him growl in frustration before pushing himself up from the bed.
"Why can't i sleep? Why can't i just move on with this? What is making me think about her like this?" Kai asked himself rubbing his head, the thoughts swirled around his head as they couldn't leave him, he wasn't sure if it was a feeling of guilt, or pity for what's happened, he doesn't have to feel bad for her, but with what has happened, he is starting to feel some level of guilt for this.
"Why am i thinking about this? She put it all on herself, and rightfully was taken to jail because of it, why should i care?" Kai asked again trying to sleep still, but he just couldn't, the thoughts just wouldn't leave his mind and it just made him feel weird. Kai growled in frustration even more as this thought was annoying him, but he soon took some deep breaths to calm down.
"Just what am i doing? If i'm thinking about her like this, what is it trying to tell me? Even if she's an enemy.." Kai said again turning to look outside the window, the sun had set against the Monastery again, and he could see Ninjago City illuminating far off in the distance, it was a glorious sight to see.
Kai sighed to himself as he pulled away from it, these thoughts were clearly not gonna leave him, no matter how much he tried to get rid of them, something clearly had to be done about this, but Kai had a strange idea on what to do.
"Maybe just seeing her will get this out of my mind, i'm sure with some talking, i can either move on from this, or maybe.. learn some more about her.." Kai told himself looking at the clock, there was enough time to get to Kryptarium and visit her, he didn't know why he was making this decision, but he just wanted to know why he kept thinking about this.
Kai soon got dressed to leave the place and started making his way through the halls, he could hear the others playing games and saw they were on the couch in the living room again while Cole rapidly pressed on the controller.
"Guys, i'm going out for a bit, i'll be back later tonight." Kai announced which caught they're attention accept for Cole's.
"Where are you going this late Kai?" Nya asked curiously looking at him.
"There isn't a crime that was reported recently is there?" Zane asked bluntly which made Kai shake his head.
"It's nothing like that Zane, i'm just gonna go get some air, i just need some time out, i'll be alright guys." Kai said taking his leave to the entrance.
"Just be careful Kai!" Lloyd shouted as he left the halls of the place.
"Where do you think Kai's going?" Jay asked curiously on what he's doing.
"Don't know, don't care, i'm close to getting a new record!" Cole said extremely focused on the game, the others regained they're focus and cheered Cole on as he played through the game with amazing skills.
Kai took a motorcycle Pixel had made him that can go at extremely fast speeds, it was the quickest way to get to Kryptarium so the other's won't get worried. The more he traveled through the desert and too Kryptarium, the more weirded out he was about what he was doing, seeing a Serpentine sorceress like Aspheera just confused him, he just didn't know why he was doing this, but his mind kept telling him to do this, Kai just kept his focus and drove at fast speeds through the desert to reach Kryptarium, the sooner he gets this over with, the sooner he could get answers on what's going on.
It took around half an hour to make it to Kryptarium, it was the highest security prison in Ninjago, a lot of the foes the ninja have taken down were taken here afterwards, while there are still some bad guys out there, it won't be long until they take em down. Kai remembered that Aspheera was put in the very same cell that was made for Garmadon, it was the highest guarded cell in the prison, so Aspheera had no chance of escaping without setting off the alarm, that cell definitely will be used for future big threats, but compared to Aspheera, there wasn't many strong threats anymore from what Kai knew.
Kai parked in front of the prison after a while of driving, he sighed with annoyance not knowing why he's doing this, but he just continued to go along with this. One of the guards looking over the entrance saw Kai far below to the gate, Kai made a friendly gesture asking him to come in, the guard had a smile and waved back before pressing the switch that opened the gate into the prison which Kai began walking through. Kai had to admit that the security in this place was next level, it did prove to be a challenge when they had to break out of it a few times, and it may only be getting stronger with more time, it impressed Kai if any prisoner was able to escape this place, and so far, none were able too.
Kai continued to walk through the prison halls until he came into the main lobby, where there were dozens of floors and cells holding familiar prisoners, but he wasn't here to see any of them, he was here to see Aspheera. And he knew he needed the Warden's permission, luckily, he and a bunch of prisoners were watching a riot on the TV, kinda like how they were the last time the ninja were here. The Warden watched it with the other prisoners until he saw Kai had come suddenly.
"Oh, hey Kai! how's our favorite fire ninja doing?" He asked walking up to him, Kai shook his hand and smiled seeing him.
"I'm doing good, been handling things well after our last adventure, just been resting for a while." Kai replied which made him laugh a little.
"Oh that's good to hear, so what brings you here? Any other prisoners you need to bring in?" The warden asked as the two walked around the place for a bit while the other prisoners continued watching Tv.
"Uh.. no actually, i'm actually here to see someone, and i was hoping it was okay if you'd let me see em." Kai explained which did confuse him a little.
"And.. who would this prisoner be?" He asked curious, Kai took a moment to answer this, but he just needed something to do right now.
"I was hoping to see.. Aspheera, i don't know why i want to see her, but i was hoping if i could have a little talk with her." Kai asked which surprised him on hearing this.
"Why would you want to see her? She's our most secure inmate, she's incredibly dangerous and will cause trouble if out of her cell." He said seriously which Kai already knew, but it was important to be cautious.
"I know, i know. But i keep getting a strange feeling i need to speak with her, it's been bugging me for a while and hasn't stopped, so i was just hoping you could let me speak with her, maybe i could learn something interesting if she feels like it? I just feel like i need to do this." Kai explained while the other prisoners saw Kai and growled seeing him, but Kai barely was faced on seeing them. The Warden hummed for a few seconds until giving his response.
"Alright, we'll let you talk with her, but be careful, that snake knows how to trick someone." He warned as they began moving through the higher security halls of the place.
"Believe me, i know." Kai replied with a serious tone as he followed him through the place.
Kai kept walking alongside the Warden to see Aspheera, the closer he was getting to talking to her, the more weird he was feeling about this, there wasn't much of a reason to why he should see her, but his gut was just telling him to do it. He did not know if it was guilt or pity he's feeling for her, but one things for certain, it will not go away unless he speaks with her, so he had to do this. He just hoped that whatever the heck he was doing here, it wasn't gonna backfire horribly on him.
Kai continued to follow through the high security halls of the place, already feeling nervous about the stuff he was seeing, it was definitely something no one was gonna escape from, even if it was him or the ninja without proper skill.
"Alright, we're here, just be careful with her okay?" The Warden asked as they came upon a highly secure door.
"Don't worry, i'm a ninja, being careful is what we do best." Kai assured which made him chuckle a little.
"Sure thing fire ninja, alright let him in!" The warden ordered the guard who was looking over the place, he pressed on a switch again and Kai watched as the doors opened up through the heavy lairs of steel that protected this room, it led into a large open and empty room, with a large pit below them, followed by a single cell that stood in the very center of it all, completely isolated. Kai gulped nervously as the bridge moved up to the cell, there was no way out for this one, and Kai had to be careful. The Warden left Kai alone as he began walking across the bridge, and at the center, he finally saw her.
Aspheera wasn't doing much in her cell, there wasn't anything in it besides a bed and a table for eating, not even a Tv to help pass time, she looked incredibly bored and hadn't even noticed him, but Kai soon made his presence known as she saw the bridge come up to her cell, and she saw Kai come up to her without his mask on, and she recognized him instantly.
"What are you doing here?" Aspheera asked with an aggressive tone, Kai knew she wouldn't be happy to see him, he expected it, and just had to push past her rude tone to talk with her.
"Been a while hasn't it? I gotta ask, how's things been in this cell?" Kai asked with a small smirk which irritated her.
"If you simply came here to mock me, then just leave me alone. I don't wish to talk with someone who's simply here to make fun of me." Aspheera said annoyed turning away from him, Kai sighed in response and just dropped that tone.
"I'm not here to make fun of you or anything like that, i'm just here to talk." Kai replied which just confused her.
"Why would you want to talk with me? Especially after what i did? I don't think that little Deceiver would approve of this action of yours would he?" Aspheera mocked referring to Wu again, Kai shook his head hearing her call that, and just moved forward.
"I don't know why i came here either, but i guess i can say that i just felt.. guilty for what's happened." Kai explained which confused her even more.
"Why would you feel guilty for me? I don't think there's nothing to feel guilty about, for destroying most of your city and banishing that robot friend of yours to the Never Realm, i see no reason for you to feel any level of guilt for this." Aspheera said coming right up to the glass where Kai was.
"I don't know either, but i guess it's for the fact that your in a time period that you don't even know, there's barely anything that's left from your own time period, there's no Pyro Viper's like you left, and not to mention there's barely anything you have to call a home left." Kai pointed out which was a true fact.
"Then why would you wanna come all this way? Freeing me is out of the question i'm sure of that. But i don't think it would be for something so simple either right?" Aspheera asked curiously which made Kai think about it too.
"I don't know, but i guess it's mainly because.. i feel bad for what's happened to you? Even if it was on you for what happened, i just can't imagine how it must feel to be in a world that's entirely different from what you know." Kai answered which made her scoff a little.
"I guess you could say that's true, to think you humans advanced so much in so long, even without a ruler looking over everything, i must say i am impressed with how well your kind has handled things since i last saw it." Aspheera said looking around the secure room.
"Hey, i'd say the same about the pyramid we found you in, to think it was built so many years ago and yet, it looks like it still holds up after thousands of years, even after it was flooded with lava." Kai replied which made her smirk a bit.
"My kind were quite the builders if you want to know, we would've made our entire land look so glorious.. if the Treacherous Deceiver hadn't intervened!" Aspheera said with anger clutching her fists again, and that made Kai shake his hand again.
"You don't know what happened to them, maybe they did make structures like the pyramid, they were just lost to time. And you shouldn't blame Wu for this, he wasn't the one who tried starting a war and would've named the land after herself." Kai pointed out which made her hiss a little.
"And yet he still hid secrets from me even after i let him and Garmadon go, my desire to know secrets like what they knew angered me, and when he used a technique like Forbidden Spinjitzu to defeat me, that just showed how much of a liar he was." Aspheera said with anger which did irritate Kai a little.
"And yet who was the one who tried conquering Ninjago with Spinjitzu? And do you really think he could've known everything that his father had to show? Wu was like 10 years old when you met him, you really think he knew everything? He was just a kid, didn't you ever have something kept from you when you were young?" Kai pointed out which made her flinch a little, that was kind of a sensitive topic for her, but she tried not to show it.
"Of.. course not, i was always keeping my focus on one thing, and i never went beyond what i was learning to quickly. While Wu most likely tried learning stuff sooner then he was supposed to." Aspheera replied again, but Kai saw the hesitation at the start of that sentence.
"I know that look Aspheera, there's something more to it." Kai pointed out which confused her.
"What do you mean?" Aspheera asked a little surprised that he saw through that little moment.
"Your not telling the truth, i know you don't trust me or anything. But i saw that look on you, that was something sensitive wasn't it?" Kai asked again looking at her who was surprised about this still.
"I.. how do you know about this? What would you know about it?" Aspheera asked trying to avoid this talk.
"Because i've felt like it before, there's something else, what is it?" Kai asked coming face to face with her, she had a look of hesitation being asked this, even if she didn't trust him at all, this was an interesting topic for both of them.
"I.. i don't want to talk about it, it's just something.. sensitive.." Aspheera said turning away from him hiding a bit of a sad look on her.
"If it's like that, i can understand, but i'd like you to know something. Even after what's happened between us and my friends, i just want you to know i'm sorry for what's happened to you." Kai apologized which surprised her greatly.
"What was that?" Aspheera asked surprised turning back to him.
"Whatever's happened with you in your past, even if you haven't told me it, i'm sorry for it, being stuck in a time period where any loved ones you knew are gone, and whatever home you had doesn't exist anymore. It's something i feel regret for, even after what you did, i'm still sorry it's happened to you." Kai answered once more, this shocked her greatly as no one had said something so.. genuine to her like this before.
"T.. thank you.. i.. haven't been told something like that before.." Aspheera said which surprised Kai a little.
"Really? No ones ever.. apologized to you before? Not even if they just overreacted to you, or for other simple things like that?" Kai asked surprised with hearing this.
"No.. no ones ever said that to me before, to be honest.. you are the first person to say something genuine to me like this, it's.. a weird feeling." Aspheera said which confused Kai a little.
"Huh, guess your not the only one, i guess i should get going, it's getting late, it was.. nice talking to you at least." Kai said as he was about to go, but Aspheera said something before he left.
"Wait.. Kai.. could you do something for me.. please?" Aspheera asked finally remembering his name, Kai was surprised to hear her say please like that, and this made him turn back to her.
"And what would that be?" Kai asked curious with this, Aspheera had a hesitant look on her, but came up to the glass to give her question.
"Do you think you could.. find some time to come talk with me from time to time? I haven't had a simple talk like this with anyone.. and i would.. like to at least talk with someone, and.. i think you are the best person i could do it with.." Aspheera asked which did surprise Kai being asked this, but she was interesting with what he knows about her now, and was interested in learning more.
"I think i can, just as long as you don't try to trick me, if you can do that.. i think i can stop by every week or so to talk, maybe we can get to know eachother more?" Kai asked walking back up to the cell which did make her a little happy hearing that.
"I'd.. really like that, it's extremely boring in this cell, having at least someone to talk too would help a lot, if you do come back, please keep it between us okay?" Aspheera asked looking directly at him.
"Don't worry, it'll be just between us, i'll.. be back to see you soon, okay?" Kai asked getting ready to leave again.
"Please do, i.. just hope you and i can learn more about eachother, you seem really interesting to me." Aspheera said while Kai looked at her one more time.
"You do too, i'll come back when i can, see.. you soon Aspheera." Kai said leaving her in her cell again.
"See you.. Kai.." Aspheera said feeling sad that he had to leave again, it was nice to have someone to talk to.. someone who actually said something nice to her..
Kai made his way back to the end of the halls where the warden was waiting, he looked a bit worried for Kai as he was talking with her for quite a bit.
"Did everything go okay Kai?" He asked as Kai watched the doors close, leaving Aspheera alone in that large empty room in a cramped cell.
"Y.. Yeah, everything went good. She didn't say anything to try and manipulate me, in fact.. i think i learned some interesting stuff about her." Kai said moving through the hallway again with him.
"And what would that be?" He asked interested hearing this, Kai only wanted to keep that talk between him and Aspheera, and wanted to keep it private.
"It was something between us, but i think i'm gonna come visit every week or so, there's something about her that's really interesting, and i think i'm gonna be talking with her some more," Kai said which interested him even more.
"Why would you wanna keep talking with her?" He asked again continuing to walk with him.
"I don't know, but something tells me i'm gonna learn more if i keep doing this.." Kai replied begging to leave again, he didn't know why, but he felt like this single talk with Aspheera opened up a new path for him, and maybe this could show something new to her, and he could even see more to her then what everyone knows about her..
After that day, it really opened up something for both Kai and Aspheera, they both had found interest with eachother, an interest they never thought would come to them. And wanting to know more about this, Kai decided he would visit her more often which made her happy to see. Every week or so Kai often found a way to go out and make it back to Kryptarium, while the other's are confused on where he keeps going, he seems to be doing fine, so not much was concerning.
Kai continued to visit her, and the more he did, the more he got to learn about her, it was a weird thing to say, but she seemed more then what they thought she was, it only made them want to talk with eachother.
Another day when Kai visited her again, they began to talk like normal, Kai would tell Aspheera about anything they fought that was interesting, but nothing had been happening for a while, so it was kinda boring. Kai and Aspheera were sitting on the sides of the cell, continuing to talk with eachother.
"Heh, so you don't have any villains to fight as of recently?" Aspheera asked chuckling at the news.
"Yeah, there was barely much for us to do after we saved Zane, it kinda was like going back to what happened before we released you, at least Cole's not eating all that cake like he used too." Kai replied chuckling at his friends love for sweets.
"Sounds really boring, did you even do anything that was like the adventures you did after the Oni were defeated? Or was i the only one really making anything interesting for you all?" Aspheera asked looking back at him.
"Nah not really, honestly traveling to another realm and being on the brink of death trying to get back home and save a friend, that was more interesting then ANYTHING that's happened after we defeated them, Cole punched one controlled guy without looking and sent him flying into some rubble, it was honestly funny." Kai said chuckling at the memory which made her smirk a little.
"Sometimes an enemy's attack is so obvious it's easy to know where they are, kinda like how that trap door made Cole fall and ruined his lunch." Aspheera said starting to laugh at the other funny story Kai told her.
"Ha ha, yeah, oh what a goofball, dude may be a pro gamer, but moments like that are just funny." Kai said laughing as well as the two kept having a fun talk for most of their time.
And after that day, Kai just found it fun to talk with someone who liked stories like this, he was honestly feeling like he was connecting with her in a way no one thought possible, it was just nice talking with someone outside of the friends he already had, even if she was still considered an enemy to them. Another time Kai visited, he and Aspheera just kept talking about things they're time periods have that make things better or worse for them.
"And that's why we cars were invented, because it would make things far easier for long days of travel, making things more relaxing, and fun for people who wanna go on a vacation." Kai said sitting against the glass with her right behind him again.
"I don't know about you Kai, but that to me sounds like your kind has been getting a bit lazy, my kind always push through long travel, and we've been able to reach the farthest parts of our land without much trouble, while you humans often start to struggle halfway." Aspheera mocked but in a playful tone which just made her more interesting.
"Eh some things for better, some for worse, at least my kind doesn't live underground for so long that they start to smell like Jay's piled up laundry." Kai teased laughing at the time Cole almost puked seeing it piled up in his room.
"We Serpentine tend to keep ourselves clean, even when underground, but it seems to me you don't like to be clean even when in a perfectly fine home." Aspheera teased back chuckling at that remark.
"Whoa, slow down there sorceress, i didn't see much clean or organized stuff back in that pyramid which looked old but able to be a good home, so who's the dirty one here?" Kai replied playfully which made her chuckle while shaking her head again.
"Oh Kai, there are some things even human and Serpentine can relate too." Aspheera replied before the two laughed some more through the large room, but while they were talking, the Warden was watching this happen with some other guards through some set up cameras they hid, and they really were surprised with they're friendly talks, it even made him smile seeing Kai get through to someone who seemed like nothing more then an evil villain.
This continued to go on for weeks at this point, and the Warden just let Kai go to see her some more, as this was an unexpected connection no one saw coming, and it made them all curious on what more Kai could talk to her about, but this was starting to make people like Wu concerned, Kai had kept going in and out of the Monastery each week somewhere, and he refused to tell them all, it made Wu a bit suspicious of where exactly Kai seemed to be going, even the others were getting curious as well.
And now we cut to another time where Kai kept this frequent visit up with Aspheera, they had been doing it for over a month at this point and have really gotten along better, but while Kai was glad to be talking with someone who could be a friend, he still didn't know much about her own past, and was hoping she could start talking more about herself.
"And i just turned 19 a couple weeks ago, managed to get a few video games, a new awesome Motorcycle from Pixel, even Wu gave me one of his staffs to use for fighting, or training." Kai concluded talking about his birthday that happened a while back.
"Why is it always the younger ones who get to go out and have fun, i'm only 24.. or 1024 if you wanna get technical, and yet there were others younger then me back in my time who got to do other things as well, and training was only one of the things they did." Aspheera replied interested in this story.
"Hey, your a sorceress, even from what i saw of you, you used some pretty cool spells, even if taking my powers was one of them, i'd say you get to do just as much awesome stuff as they did." Kai replied which made her laugh a little bit again.
"Yeah.. i would've been able to do just as great.. if they didn't find me pathetic.." Aspheera said whispering that last part really quietly while looking a bit sad saying that.
"What was that?" Kai asked barely hearing that last part.
"It's.. it's nothing Kai.." Aspheera said quickly not wanting to talk about it, but Kai knew something was up, it may tie into what she told him the first time they talked.
"Aspheera, at this point, you and i have been talking like this for over a month, and we've been getting to know eachother more, and at this point.. i'm starting to see you as a friend." Kai said which did surprise her a little.
"Really.. you see me as.. a friend?" Aspheera asked turning her head to him.
"Yeah, with how well we've been getting along, outside of what happened with us and the others, your a really interesting person to talk with. And talks like this are what make friends get along better. Didn't you ever have a friend back in your time?" Kai asked curiously looking at her, and that question made her have a bit of a sad look to her.
"No.. i never really did, even the stuff i had with Wu wasn't what i'd call friendship, i was never really.. that well liked when i was around the other Pyro Vipers.." Aspheera admitted which finally got some new info on her that Kai was interested in.
"What do you mean? isn't being a sorceress a cool thing? Knowing spells that others could only wish to know?" Kai asked wanting to go more into this.
"For some that could be the case.. for others.. it made them see me as weak, Pyro Vipers tend to fight their foes with they're skill in physical strength alone, and people like me who tried it through other means like sorcery, were seen as pathetic, it made them think we'd never live up to be a warrior like we were always seen to be." Aspheera explained which confused Kai a bit.
"How is knowing more spells over nothing but brute strength and power seen as pathetic? My team is all about finding the right moment to attack and plan out what to do, would simply planning out our plan of attack be seen as pathetic to your kind too?" Kai asked pointing that out.
"Eh.. i'd say yes to that, my kind wasn't exactly ones for smart thinking, you could see that in Char, there were very few Pyro Vipers like me who preferred brain over brawn, while the rest just rushed into things without much of a plan.. and i think with how much i know about this time.. i'd say my type of Serpentine.. didn't make it did they?" Aspheera asked as there wasn't any Pyro Viper's left from what she knew which made Kai sigh feeling bad for her on this.
"Yeah, yeah.. there's only one Anacondrai left from what we know, we just don't know where he is, while the other tribes are doing just fine in an underground tomb they have, but for your own tribe.. i'm sorry about that." Kai said feeling a bit of regret for her on this.
"It's okay Kai.. this did prove to me that me knowing more then brute strength saved me, even if i was a bit crazy.." Aspheera said a bit upset from knowing she may be the only Pyro Viper left here.
"Hey, it'll be okay, if you see me as a friend, know that i'll be here for you. I just gotta ask.. why did you wanna over throw your previous ruler? Why were you so evil?" Kai asked wanting to know more about her, Aspheera flinched a little on being asked that, but if she wanted to understand him more, she had to tell her it.
"It was because.. i never had the best life as a sorceress Kai, before i took the role as a sorceress, i was abandoned by my own parents.. i never knew who they were or where they went, i never had a proper family growing up with me. I wasn't as skilled as the other Pyro Vipers in my time, even with what fighting skills i knew, i was never able to reach they're level, and they always saw me as pathetic. I was constantly mocked, made fun of, left alone without anyone or anything to help me through my misery... it drove me crazy Kai, and when i saw Wu and Garmadon in that cell, knowing who they were, i wanted to learn what they knew, not only so i can prove to everyone i'm not pathetic, but that there could be more to me. But.. with so much power that the others didn't even know, it over took me, it made me crazy and want to conquer Ninjago, i was just so deep into the power i had, it made me wanna get back at anyone who made fun of me or called me a weakling. But i didn't see just how much harm i was doing to others.. and i was rightfully entombed for it.." Aspheera said with sadness reflecting on her past.
Kai was genuinely shocked to hear this sad past of hers, while she did try and take over Ninjago and tricked Wu, it seemed to be just because she was driven mad by her own people, and the only way to make it all stop was through dominance, so that was why she wanted to learn Spinjitzu, or any other powerful technique Wu could've known, it started to make sense.
"I'm.. really sorry to hear that Aspheera, i can't say i know what it's like, but i do know that not having a family or any friends with you when going through this kind of thing is awful, and with what you went through, i only wish you had someone to care for you." Kai said regretfully while Aspheera started to cry.
"It's just.. why was i abandoned? What made my own parents want to throw me away like that? Did they think i was pathetic like all the others, or did they just not care for me? If even they didn't love or care about me.. then why didn't anyone try to help me? Was i just seen as a waste? Just some.. worthless snake to get rid off? What is wrong with me?" Aspheera asked all at once while breaking down crying, Kai could see just how much this messed her up, and it was making sense why she was evil like this, it wasn't because she was selfish, it was because she had been through so much that drove her to a breaking point.
"Aspheera, you don't know if your parents hated you, me and my sister were left without our parents for years, so long to the point i didn't think they didn't care for us. But when we finally met them again, they did care for us, they were being held captive and forced to work for evil people, but even after all that stuff was over, me and my sister didn't really know how to bond again after so long, and we just parted ways when the fighting was done, while keeping contact in touch of course. But what i'm trying to say is, if your parents suddenly vanished like that, it may not be because they hated you, but rather because they couldn't take care of you, and hoped that you could find a way without them. You should never think that your parents don't love you, i'm sure there was a reason for leaving you alone, even if you can't understand it." Kai assured putting his hand on the glass, Aspheera kept crying for a bit while she listened to it, it was the first time someone in over 1000 years ever said something so nice to her.
"Do you.. really think that Kai?" Aspheera asked looking back at him, Kai only gave a small smile in response and kept focus on her.
"Of course, i'm sure there was a reason, there always is. But know this, friends look out and care for eachother, just like how i do for you." Kai assured which started to make her feel something she hadn't felt in so long.. happiness, and joy.
"Kai.. thank you.. thank you so much.. if i wasn't in this cell.. i'd be coiled around you and hugging you close, i've never been told something so nice like this before.." Aspheera said gratefully having a smile of happiness on her which made Kai smile back.
"Yeah, you've been stuck in here for a while now, and you haven't had any real help with this kind of trouble have you?" Kai asked looking around the large room.
"No.. i haven't, you are the first person i've ever had that would want to talk with me like this, it's a feeling i'd never thought i'd feel.." Aspheera said sadly looking at the ground. Kai could see so much from her with that sentence, there was more to her then being just an evil sorceress, deep down, she was a real person who had flaws and even trauma in some areas that other's could relate too, and not having anyone to help with this just made him feel awful for her. And that's when he realized something, her being stuck in here won't help her much, even with the talks she and him kept having, it wasn't enough to help her through it, she needed real help, she needed to be out of here, and with someone to help her, and if anyone was gonna help her with it, it was him.
"Aspheera, i think i can help you, if your willing, i could convince the mayor to let you out of prison, and if you don't attack me, my friends or the city again, you could start to be seen as a real person here other then just another villain. I could help you through all of this and help you redeem what you've done." Kai offered which really surprised her.
"Really? You'd.. do that for me? Even after what i did?" Aspheera asked both surprised and overjoyed to be asked that.
"Of course, but only if you promise not to hurt anyone again, i won't be able to help you through this if you try and attack us again, but i could arrange some stuff around, and even if you had to live with me and my friends, we all could find a way to help you through this." Kai offered which made her smile even more.
"Of course! I swear i won't ever try to attack you or your friends again! If it means i can get out of here, and spend time with you, i'd do anything for it!" Aspheera said with a smile which made Kai happy to know.
"Then i'll try and talk with the Mayor about letting you go, and i'll convince the others to let you stay with us, i promise i'll help you through this, count on it." Kai said confidently which made her really happy.
"Thank you so much Kai, please try to do what you can, i hope you can convince them." Aspheera prayed as Kai began to leave the room again.
"Me too, i'll find a way, see you in a bit." Kai said with a smile as he was leaving the room, and Aspheera had hope that he would be able to help her, since he was her first.. real.. friend..
Kai had just walked through the halls and out of the cell room again, he was hoping he could convince the Mayor to let her go, but as he turned another corner, he was suddenly greeted by the Warden himself who was already there, and he seemed to look proud of him.
"Oh uh hey, i was just about to go.." Kai said trying to leave before he stopped him.
"We know what you and her were talking about, we were able to hear everything." He said simply which surprised Kai a lot.
"Wait.. you mean you know about..?" Kai asked making sure of what he was being told.
"We heard everything Kai, and i must say, i am extremely proud for what you have done to help her. None of us thought she'd open herself up like this, but you really helped us show something in her, and we couldn't be more happy about it." He said with a smile which made Kai curious.
"So does that mean you heard me talking about.. trying to let her go so i can help her more?" Kai asked looking back at her cell room.
"I already called the Mayor himself about it, we showed him recorded footage of your talks.. sorry for invading your privacy, but he was actually really impressed with what you were able to do for her. And learning this much about her now made him consider it, but he only wants one thing from you in return." He explained which Made Kai hopeful.
"Of course, i'd do anything, what is it?" Kai asked really wanting to help her out of this.
"The Mayor said that if we release her, you will be in charge of what happens with her, if she does anything that will have her go back in jail, you'll have to take some time too, it's only fair you take responsibility for what happens." He explained some more, but Kai already knew what his choice was, even if he had to go to jail.. again, he knows he'll be finding a way to help her, so it was worth the risk.
"Of course, a few months or years in here won't be much trouble, i promise nothing will happen with her." Kai assured which made him smile even more.
"That's great to here, we'll have her released in a few minutes, you did good fire ninja, i hope you can help her with what she's going through." He said while the two went back to the cell again.
"Believe me, i know." Kai said once more really proud that he was able to get through this. The Warden motioned another guard to open up the cell Aspheera was in, and once the gate opened once more, Kai saw the glass case she was in rise up, finally letting her go after a long time of being trapped in it. Kai smiled proudly and went up to her, Aspheera saw him and had a look of pure joy seeing him, he actually managed to convince them, it made her so happy in ways she's never felt before.
She didn't waste a single second to come up to him and hug him tightly, it was a feeling of gratitude no ones shown her before, and she only wanted more of it.
"Kai.. thank you so much.. you have no idea how much this means to me.." Aspheera said gratefully holding him close, Kai smiled back and looked up at her who had some tears in her eyes again.
"Your welcome Aspheera, come on, let's get you to the Monastery, i have a lot of explaining to do with the others." Kai said taking her hand, they began to walk out of the large room and go through the halls of the prison to finally leave.
"I'm sure there will be a lot.." Aspheera replied as she slithered besides him, it was gonna be a strange talk, and while she was still in bad terms with Wu and the other ninja, hopefully he could convince them to give her a chance.
After Kai and Aspheera left prison, Kai drove back to the Monastery with Aspheera right next to him, it was gonna be an important talk, he knew the other's had been getting suspicious about what he was doing, and knew it was time for them to know what he's been doing, even if they don't fully approve of it. After an hour of driving once again, Kai and Aspheera arrived on the doorsteps of the Monastery once again, and he got off to prepare for what's to come.
"Alright, i'll go in first and explain what's going on to everyone, i'd like you to wait out here for a moment okay?" Kai asked walking up to the doors with her.
"Sure thing Kai, i just hope you can convince them." Aspheera prayed staying close to him.
Me too, hopefully we don't have any.." Kai said right before the doors suddenly opened, and they both turned to see that not only Master Wu was already waiting for him, but Lloyd and the other's were waiting too, and to say they looked surprised seeing him with Aspheera was an understatement to say the least.
"So.. this is where you've been going to for this past month Kai? To talk with.. her?" Wu asked both upset and disappointed seeing her next to him.
"Guys look.. i can explain everything.." Kai said raising his hands up, but the others had dozens of questions of their own.
"Why would you wanna spend time with her? Do you remember what she did to you?!" Nya asked upset that he's been keeping this from them.
"She banished Zane to the Never Realm and was trapped there for decades!" Jay pointed out which Zane nodded in agreement from.
"Not to mention i was corrupted by the Scroll and froze over the realm as a cold and evil ruler." Zane added, even he sounded upset from knowing this now.
"Not to mention she took your powers! And attacked the city with fire snakes!" Cole shouted upset at all of this, Kai kept listening to all of their points and was getting irritated until he had enough.
"Guys! Stop! I know what's happened with us and her! But if you don't let me explain what's been happening, you'll just make this worse for us all!" Kai shouted which shut all of them up.
"He's right, you didn't even let him finish his sentence before you all argued with him, you should at least hear what he has to say." Aspheera said mad at they're rude interruption, they all were surprised by her defense of him, but it was also a true statement.
"Alright, sorry Kai, but just tell us, what have you been doing for that past month?" Lloyd asked wanting to know what's been going on, Kai sighed and looked at all of them.
"It's a long story guys." Kai said as they walked into the Monastery together, everyone was upset of the fact that Aspheera was here, but decided to hear out what Kai has to say first.
Everyone went to the living room to talk things out, everyone was in a bit of an awkward position and were not saying anything, Aspheera was sitting next to Kai while he explained to everyone what's been happening. From the frequent visits he had with her in prison, to the friendly talks they continued to have each time, and especially to what Aspheera told Kai regarding her past, he made sure to go into every detail about what happened, and was about to finish things up.
"And with the Mayor's permission, Aspheera was allowed to be released, but i was put in charge of watching over her to make sure nothing bad happens, this was a way for her to be pardoned for what she's done, and can be seen as a real person here, i did this because i believed i can help her, and i just couldn't leave her in that cell." Kai finished while all of them had different reactions, Zane, Pixel and Lloyd had looks of both interest and concern hearing this, while Lloyd, Jay and Cole were really surprised to hear this, even Wu was a bit surprised on what's been going on with them, even if they were still on bad terms.
"So.. you and Aspheera have been talking with eachother for the past month? That's why you've been going each weak?" Lloyd asked making sure he understands this.
"And Aspheera was legally released and is now under your supervision?" Pixel asked as well, fascinated by what she was told.
"And you and her actually became.. friends?" Jay asked really surprised to know about this.
"Yes, yes, and yes. I've been doing this with her for the past month, and while i know you all are very weary of her being here, i learned more about her then you'd think, it showed me that she has the chance of becoming good. I wasn't just gonna let someone like that be left alone.." Kai said looking at Aspheera who smiled upon hearing that.
"Kai, you really think she's actually wanting to redeem herself? What if it's a trick? What if she's just trying to learn any secrets we have here?" Cole asked suspicious of her.
"I am beyond that! Kai is the first person who ever treated me with such kindness! Even if you all don't trust me, i trust him, and i am not wanting to betray him." Aspheera said staying close to him, they were really surprised about her sudden counter, but some could see she was honest with this.
"And what about being in charge of her? You realize if she causes trouble again, you'll be responsible for this." Wu asked again which made him shake his head.
"Yes, i know about this, i just told all of you. Look, i know the experience we've had with her isn't that great at all. But i've seen more to her then you have, she's more then an evil sorceress, deep down there's something she has that we all can relate too. And i wanted to help her through it, even if you all don't trust her yet, i want you all to at least give her a second chance. I don't want this to go to waste, there's a real chance we can help her, and i just want you all to see it too, please guys." Kai begged looking at all of them, they all looked at eachother again having mixed thoughts on this, but they saw Kai really hoped this can help her, even if they don't understand her fully, perhaps with some time, they could learn to bond with her more.
"Well.. i always believed someone deserves a second chance, and if even Aspheera can redeem herself, maybe this will only prove my hopes further.." Lloyd said starting to agree with this.
"Even if she banished me to the Never Realm, it did lead to us making friends and going on an adventure after a while of nothing, and i think having her with us would make things better for future adventures too.." Zane said a little surprised he's agreeing to this.
"As long as she doesn't go about that whole revenge thing over and over, i think i can get along with her." Jay said casually shrugging his shoulders.
"There always is a second chance in us, and i think this is a great way to help people." Pixel said looking at Aspheera who was smiling at their responses.
"Well.. As long as she doesn't try and cause trouble, i think i'm okay with it." Cole said as well agreeing to this too, even Nya was considering this.
"If my brother was able to convince her.. then he can convince anyone i guess." Nya replied still unsure if this was a good idea. Wu saw all of them were starting to agree with this, and while he was upset that Aspheera was here, hearing what Kai had to say made him consider it, she didn't look like she was here to cause any harm at all, after a few minutes of thinking, Wu decided to give his answer too.
"Very well, i will allow Aspheera to stay with us, but you will keep an eye on her at all costs, understood Kai?" Wu asked slamming his staff down a little which spooked them, but Kai was happy they all understood this and accepted it.
"Of course, i'll make sure nothing bad happens." Kai said looking up at Aspheera who was happy about this too.
"And i promise i won't do anything to harm you, Kai is the first person i've ever had to call a friend, and i'm hoping i can be friends with all of you too." Aspheera said with a smile looking at them.
"Well, we'll see what happens in the future." Cole said standing up and getting ready to leave.
"Hopefully we have something interesting to do now that Aspheera's living here, i'm gonna go hit the sack guys." Jay said with a yawn heading to his room.
"Yeah, i think i'm gonna go to sleep to, night guys." Lloyd said tired as well going to his room too.
"This is gonna be an interesting development.." Zane said walking out of the room too.
"Just watch over her okay Kai?" Nya asked walking out too, Kai nodded with a smile and saw her leave too until everyone else left. Wu was the only one in the room and was just looking at them.
"Wu, i promise you, she is a good person, and i want to help you realize it." Kai said turning to him who was still suspicious of this.
"We shall see in time, i hope you know what your doing Kai." Wu said still unsure if this is a good choice while he left the two alone.
"Well.. now that that's over with, you ready to get some sleep too?" Kai asked looking at her.
"It's been a long day, lead the way Fire ninja." Aspheera said with a smile, Kai smiled back in response and walked through the halls with her, while they did have her living here now, this was a chance for her to become part of the crew, and whatever adventures were ahead of them, he hoped Aspheera can be accepted by the others like he has too.. and maybe they'll be more then friends..